Elephant made of duct tape.

Duct Tape Capital of the World

Avon, Ohio

Duct tape is king in this Cleveland suburb.

Since 2004, a group of volunteers in town have organized and run the Avon Heritage Duck Tape Festival every Father's Day weekend. The event rallies around the semi-miraculous adhesive product, and includes a duct tape fashion show, large duct tape sculptures, and crowning of a "Duct Tape Dad of the Year."

Why is Avon the "Duct Tape Capital of the World?" Duct tape happens to be manufactured in town by Henkel Consumer Adhesives, under their Duck(r) brand.

Duck Tape mascot and helpers.

According to the company's official timeline, duct tape was invented during World War II -- GIs used it to repair jeeps and as makeshift battlefield bandages. The Manco company renamed the product "Duck Tape" in 1985, and moved their corporate headquarters to Avon in 1996. In 1998, Manco was permanently adhered to The Henkel Group. The company is a major sponsor of Avon's festival (no surprise).

The three-day duct tape lovathon annually attracts 60,000+ pilgrims. The first 500 tourists each day receive a free roll of Duck Tape.